Install Apps Directly From a Website (EU Only)

This is by far one of the coolest features coming to iOS 17.5, but it’s also sad that most iPhone users worldwide won’t be able to use it.

We’re talking about the ability to download apps directly from third-party websites. That’s right; you won’t need to go to the App Store to find and install your favorite apps.

This is all thanks to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which basically forced Apple to loosen its control over the App Store by, among other things, letting users install apps from different websites.

Unfortunately, this feature won’t be available for every app on the App Store, so don’t expect your favorite small indie dev team to use it — unless, of course, they’re really popular. 

Developers will need to meet some requirements to host apps on their websites, including having an app with more than one million installs on iOS in the EU in the prior year.

Still, this is the beginning of a huge change in the App Store, so it’s exciting to see developers have a little bit more freedom. Hopefully, those of us outside the EU will get to experience it first-hand in the future.